Dial lock



March 1948. H. E. GOLDSTINE r AL 2,436,921 I am. LOCK Filed March 22,1944 m/VE/vmes 6 hALl/WV 5. 040.9 mvs os'rw/v 1 0/57 ATTdE/VE PatentedMar. 2, .1948

UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE .Hallan E. Goldstine and Oswin F. Voigt,Port Jefferson Station, N. Y., assignors to Radio Corporation ofAmerica, a corporation of Delaware Application March'ZZ, 1944, SerialNo. 527,597

This invention relates to a new and usefulv dial lock for use with radioapparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide a selfaligning dial lockhaving a clamping action such that the spring will have some free motionwhich will allow the bottom portion to open up.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiveradio tuning dial lock which will tend to keep the lock nut portion fromloosening under vibration.

A feature of this invention is a simple spring member which is fastenedto a panel by a slotted mounting bar, the spring member being providedwith a lock nut and. stud which clamps the dial in any desired position.

Some of the advantages of this dial lock over those of the prior artare:

1. It is self-aligning, the clamping action is such that the spring hassome free motion and allows the bottom portion to open.

2. It is simple to make and assemble.

3. The clamp has plenty of clearance when open.

4. The knurled nut is under spring action when in the locked position,which tends to keep the nut from loosening under vibration.

5. When assembled the screw stud is peened over, so that the knurled nutcannot fall off.

This invention will best be understood by referring to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Fig. 1 isa front elevation of the dial lock,

Fig. 2 :is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is :a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, a mounting or support bar Iis secured to the panel 2 of any suitable radio apparatus (such as areceiver or a transmitter), in any suitable position, by means of tworound head screws 3 which are tapped in the panel at 4. The centralportion of the mounting bar I is provided with a slot 5 around whichthere is located a spring member 6 which is preferably constructed ofberyllium copper or any other suitable spring material. The spring 6 hasa fiat back portion 6A, a curved front portion 63, and a dial engagingbent portion 6C which is bent as indicated. A threaded stud I having arectangular bottom plate 8 is arranged to be prevented from rotation byslot 5 and passes through apertures in portions 6A, 6B and 6C of thespring, the location of the apertures being just beyond the position inwhich a dial plate 9 is arranged to rotate. A knurled thumb nut I ismounted for rotation on stud 1 just outside the spring por- 4 Claims.(Cl. 188-83) tion -6B. The end of the stud 1 is peened over at ll sothat the nut l0 cannot fall off due to vibration and thus become lost.The dial 9 is provided with the tuning operating shaft l2 and knob l3,both of which may be of any suitable size or configuration. The shaft 12may operate a variable condenser, inductance or similar tuning devices.

In the operation of the device of this invention, whenever it is desiredto change the adjustment of the radio apparatus, the knurled nut I0 isloosened by rotating it on the threaded stud I which releases thepressure of the spring 6 on the dial plate 9. The desired adjustmentsare then made by rotating the dial plate 9 and shaft l2 by grasping thehandle l3 and rotating the dial until a proper desired setting isobtained on the radio apparatus as indicated by the fixed arrow indexshown on panel 2. After the pro-per adjustment is obtained and it isdesired to prevent any further changes in the then obtained adjustment,the knurled thumb nut It is then tightened until the curved front openportion of the spring 6 is closed sufficiently toward its rear portionto frictionally engage the dial plate therebetween. The dial plate isthus held in a locked position thereby preventing any further turning'of the dial plate 9 and shaft I2.

While we have indicated and described a device of our invention, it willbe apparent to one skilled in the art that our invention is by no meanslimited to the particular device-shown and described, but that manymodifications may be made without departing from the scope of ourinvention.

What we claim is:

1. An article of manufacture including a support member having a slotand apertures adjacent thereto adapted to receive mounting means, afolded open ended spring located in and around the slot in said supportmember, a threaded stud passing through apertures in said spring, meanslocated on one end of said stud for engaging the slot in said supportmember to prevent the turning thereof, and a threaded member positionedon said stud and arranged to close the open ended portion of saidspring.

2. A self-aligning dial lock comprising a support plate having a slotand apertures adjacent thereto, means passing through said apertures formounting said dial look, a folded open ended spring member secured tosaid support plate, a threaded stud passing through three alignedapertures in the folded portions of said spring, and a. threaded locknut positioned on said threaded stud and arranged to close the openended portion of said spring member whereby said dial is located in adesired position by applying'pressure to said spring.

3. A dial lock plate comprising a support memher having a slottedportion and apertures therein adapted toreceive mounting means, an openended spring member folded to form three parallel portions' one portionbeing located in and rotation on the threads of said stud and arrangedto close the open ended portion of said spring. ".,,1iio

4. A self-aligning dial lo'ckcomprising' asap member to look a dial platihadies'iredp port member having a slot and apertures adjacent theretoadapted to receive mountingTme'ans,

a. folded open ended spring located in andaround the slot in saidsupport member, means-located at one end of said stud ior engagingtheslot in a e er i ee ei P -fa he mensw a- 4 of, a threaded memberpositioned on said stud and arranged to close the open ended portion ofsaid spring and means located at the other end of said stud to preventsaid threaded member from coming off of said stud.

HALLAN E. GOLDS-TINE.

REFERENCES ermn The following references are of record in the of thispatent:

Name Date 1,354,935. ,ea, Aug. 1, 1944 seems v menway Sept. 17, 19071,981,338 Gargan Oct. 15, 1918 2,323,608 Ks't r July 6, 1943 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 713,819 France. Aug-24 931

